Welcome to the one-year anniversary special of Ditch the Ick! I’m taking a bit of a back seat in this episode as my best friend, Jersey, hijacks the show to put me in the hot seat. She’s ready to embarrass me while we celebrate a wild, unforgettable year. From navigating the ups and downs of podcasting to creating this incredible community, it’s been a feral, fun ride, and I can’t wait to reflect on it with all of you.

Jersey and I go way back—we’ve had plenty of adventures together, You know this episode is going to be full of laughs, some cringey memories, and maybe even a few heartfelt moments. Whether you've been with me from the start or you’re a new listener, this is an inside look at how Ditch the Ick has grown and what’s coming next! 

Key Takeaways:

CTA:

Catch the full story by listening to this special episode! I’d love for you to join me in celebrating this milestone—listen now and share your favorite Ditch the Ick memories with me instagram @ditchtheickpod

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In this episode of Ditch the Ick, I’m joined by Cortney Griffy, host of the podcast What the Smut are You Talking About, for a fun and insightful deep dive into the world of smutty romance novels. If you’ve ever been curious about the world of romance sub-genres or unsure where to start, this is your crash course! From cowboys to dark romance, we’re breaking it all down.

What We Covered:

How Cortney Got Into Smut: We kicked things off with Cortney’s story of how she fell into the world of smutty books, starting from her days as an avid reader of Harry Potter and Twilight, to discovering Fifty Shades of Grey, and now diving into dark romance and beyond.

Navigating Romance Sub-Genres: Cortney and I explored the various sub-genres of romance, including:

We also clarified some key tropes like "grumpy-sunshine," "fake dating," and "age gap" relationships.

Curious about diving into the smutty romance world? Tune in to this episode for a full Smut 101! Be sure to follow @ditchtheickpod on Instagram for more tips and discussions. Also, don’t forget to check out Cortney Griffy’s podcast What the Smut are You Talking About @whatthesmutpodcast for more juicy book recs and conversations.

Ready to start your smutty reading journey? Join our Feral Girl Fall Book Club!

Feral Girl Fall IG Lives to discuss each book on the below dates:

Join FB Group now! https://www.facebook.com/share/g/HNNkwsiDqZzzotkd/

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I’m getting real and sharing my personal journey from what I call "Sad B*tch Island" to living out my own rom-com fantasy. From navigating ADHD and financial crises to running a business and dating in this wild world, I’m laying it all out there.

What We Covered: 

• Financial Crises and Risk-Taking: Last year, I faced some serious financial struggles, but I’m sharing how learning how to ask for help changed everything. It’s hard being a single b*tch in this economy. 

• Embracing the Delulu: Looking back, if someone had told me how things would unfold, I would've thought they were out of their mind!

• Dating Adventures and the Future: Of course, I had to dish out some personal dating stories and share my plans for what’s next. The biggest takeaway? Keep putting yourself out there and trust that amazing things can happen, even if they seem out of reach right now. 

Reach out and don’t be afraid to take those risks—sometimes being delulu really is the solulu! 

If you’re ready to lean into a little delulu and start making the impossible a reality, this episode is for you! Make sure to follow @ditchtheickpod on Instagram for all the updates, and stay connected for more episodes where we talk about the highs, lows, and everything in between of this crazy thing called life. Feral Fall Girl Book Club will be rolling real soon! Join the free Patreon or our Facebook group to get in on the action!

Links:

Patreon - 

https://www.patreon.com/ditchtheick

Instagram - 

https://www.instagram.com/ditchtheickpod?igsh=NG1lbzhnaHk5MGJk&utm_source=qr

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In this episode of Ditch the Ick, we’re joined by a special guest — The Scotsman! Together, we dive into a hilarious adventure, exploring the wild culture differences between the U.S. and the U.K. Expect stories of epic culture shocks, bizarre encounters with "nutters" and "maniacs", and the legendary devotion to Bucc-ees. With plenty of laughs, witty banter, and unfiltered takes, this episode is a whirlwind of transatlantic chaos you won’t want to miss!

Bonus content on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck

Connect with Katie:

https://www.instagram.com/ditchtheickpod/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchtheick/

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My guest this week is Denise Holler. Denise is a Clinical Sexologist and Certified Sex Coach with a passion for enhancing the intimate lives of her clients. She believes in breaking the taboo around sex and providing education in this essential area. Specializing in working with women and couples, Denise addresses various aspects of sex and intimacy, including uneven desire, low libido, body image issues, and enhanced pleasure, all through a holistic approach known as the MEBES model. By evaluating the Mind, Emotions, Body, Energy, and Spirit, she helps individuals and couples unblock areas of concern and achieve alignment for a more fulfilling sexual experience. Denise's mission is to help people rediscover pleasure, gain confidence, and find happiness in the bedroom. Alongside her professional work, she is also an advocate for the Neurodivergent community, as she herself has ADHD and has been working with ADHD coaches for several years.

In this episode, we cover topics ranging from masturbation and body image to communication in the bedroom. It is fascinating to learn about Denise's work helping people overcome issues and fully embrace pleasure.

Connect with Denise:

Email: [email protected]

FB Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/denisehollercoachingllc

Private FB group community https://www.facebook.com/groups/dhcoachingempowered

Denise also works with The Original ADHD Coach https://www.theoriginaladhdcoach.com/

Connect with Katie:

https://www.instagram.com/ditchtheickpod/

Join the Patreon Party!

https://www.patreon.com/DitchtheIck

Join the Facebook Group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ditchtheick/

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In this episode of Ditch the Ick, I sat down with the incredibly talented Maria Pendolino, a voice actor and TV personality who was even on an episode of one of my favorite shows 'House Hunters'. We dove deep into Maria's unique approach to online dating, and how she finally found her happily ever after—after 97 first dates!

Key Takeaways:

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @ditchtheickpod for more updates and behind-the-scenes content! And be sure to check out Maria Pendolino’s work by following her on social media @mariapendo and exploring her voice acting projects.

Like this episode? Rate it and leave us a review!

Follow Maria:

https://www.voicebymaria.com/

https://www.instagram.com/mariapendo

https://www.tiktok.com/@mariapendo

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In this episode of Ditch the Ick, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the amazing Gabriella Borrero, also known as Gabby. She's the founder of the Next Generation Network and a consultant who's passionate about empowering minority female entrepreneurs. Gabby and I go connected at the start of my entrepreneur journey in 2022 through a Facebook group, and I couldn’t wait to have her on the show to share her story.

Here’s What We Covered:

Follow us on Instagram:

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In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with holistic life coach and world traveler Paige Mitchell. Paige shared her inspiring journey from burnout to living a life filled with intention and purpose. We dove into her personal experiences, including navigating the end of an 11-year relationship, the ups and downs of dating, and her adventurous decision to backpack through 14 countries. We also discussed the importance of self-compassion, self-awareness, and emotional healing, as well as Paige’s top five core values that guide her approach to coaching and life.

We Discussed:

Follow us on Instagram: @ditchtheickpod

Let’s build a community where we can support each other through the ups and downs of single life!

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In this episode, I’m spilling all the details on how I managed to travel through Europe this summer without breaking the bank! From scoring free accommodation with the Trusted House Sitters app to finding last-minute deals on food and trains, I’m sharing all my favorite budget travel hacks. I’ll also dive into the best transportation apps and services I used across the UK, offering tips on how to navigate public transit, payment options, and more.

If you're planning a trip or just love hearing about smart travel strategies, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you save big on your next adventure. Plus, I’m giving away my personal trip planning spreadsheet and announcing upcoming episodes with special guests Paige Mitchell and Gabby Barrero!

What You'll Hear:

Accommodation Tips:

Transportation Insights:

Safety and Planning:

Upcoming Episodes:

• Get ready for exciting conversations with Paige Mitchell and Gabby Barrero, where we’ll dive deeper into travel, personal growth, and more.

Stay Connected: Make sure to follow the podcast on Instagram @ditchtheickpod for travel tips, updates, and behind-the-scenes content. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review—it helps the show grow and reach more listeners!

Click here to view the resources I shared in this episode: 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nG3SOmVCG0qG0vdliJ8TkRlbzoC3x0CDBH2h9CqRzpc/edit?usp=sharing

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